Anode



Nov. 2, 1937,

Hat/W6 H. H. BLOUCH ANODE Filed April- '7. 1954 INVENTOR. F/G. YJ Harm/mM 51.00am

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES,

ANODE Howard H. Blouch, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments,to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation ofDelaware Application April '1, 1934, Serial No. 719,453 Claims. (Cl.204-4) This invention relates to anodes for use in electroplating and isparticularly directed to anodes cast upon a support, or spine, which isprovided with means along its length providing sur- 5 faces upon whichthe anode material may rest and about which the anode material maycling.

In the manufacture of anodes it has been the practice to cast the anodematerial around a spine which is inert to the plating bath, the spinebeing provided with a hook by means of which the anode may be suspended.This method of construction is not entirely satisfactory, since unevenanode corrosion removes the active material from one side or another andtheremainder falls from the spine, frequently damaging mechanicalequipment. The anode material which becomes detached from the spine is,no longer available for its intended use in plating, and the life ofthe anode is greatly decreased.

It is an object of my invention toimprove the bond. between the inertmaterial of the spine and the active anode material cast around it, sothat the anode material will remain on the spine until it is almostentirely utilized, thereby effecting a 25 great economy of anodemateriaL' I accomplish my purpose by modifying the spine so thatsurfaces in planes other than those of the spine faces are provided toanchor the anode material.

In the drawing: I 30 Figure 1 illustrates an anode provided with a spinemodified according to my invention.

Figures 2-8, inclusive, show portions of modifled spines embodying myinvention.

In Figure 1 there is illustrated a curved anode l l 5 cast upon a spine2. The spine is provided with a hook 4 by means of which the anode maybe suspended in an electroplating bath. The anode material is that whichone'desires to electrodeposit and may be, for example, zinc, cadmium, or

40 tin. The spine is made of any material customarlly used in thisrelation, and is preferably iron or steel. The spine is provided withholes 3 approximately elliptical in shape which providesurfaces inplanes other than those of the spine 45 faces. The anode material, whencast on the spine, fills the holes 3 and firmly anchors the anode to thespine. Even if the corrosion of the anode occurs more rapidly on oneside than on .the other, the remaining anode material does not 50 fallofi, but is held securely by the spine. Obviously, the holes may bewidely varied as to size and shape without departing from the spirit'ofmy' invention. 0

In the modification of Figure 2 the spine 2, of

55 which only a portion is shown, is provided with struck-out, upwardlydirected hooks 5, adjacent hooks being on opposite sides of the spine.

In Figure 3 the hooks 5 are all on the same side of the spine. Thismodification is best applied to a curved spine, the hooks being bentaway from 6 spine, I may secure them in place as by welding. 1

In Figure 6 the spine 2 is provided with hooks l. The hooks l are shownas round, upwardly directed pins.

It is apparent that the hooks struck from, or

secured to, the spine may be varied as to size and shape withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. The hooks may, obviously,extend from the spine at any desired angle, though in general I preferupwardly directed hooks. Figure '7 illustrates a modification wherein aspine 2 is provided with struck-out hooks 8. The hooks 8, instead ofbeing upwardly directed, are bent downwardly. The spine of Figure 7operates very satisfactorily.

The spine may, of course, be of any desired cross section. In Figure 8there is seen a portion of a spine 9 which is round in cross section.The hooks used are short pieces of wire I0 which are wrapped partlyaround the spine and welded in place.

, My improved spines can be used with curved anodes, such as that ofFigure 1, or with straight anodes. It is also noted that preliminary tocasting the anode materials upon the spines of my invention, I find itadvantageous to coat the spines 40 with some of the anode material. Thespines may be preliminarily coated by such plating processes aselectrodeposition, dipping the spine into a bath of the anode materialin molten condition, etc. 5 This preliminary coating of anode materialincreases the adhesion between the spine and the anode cast upon it.

I claim:

1. An anode of the type described comprising a spine with anode materialcast thereupon, the spine being provided with struck-out hooks.

2. An anode of the type described comprising a spine with anode materialcast thereon, the spine being provided with struck-out hooks, part ofthe books extending in one direction, and the remaining hooks extendingin other directions.

3, An elongated, imperforate, soluble anode of the type wherein theanode material is dissolved in use, the soluble anode material beingcast upon a spine of insoluble material which extends substantially thewhole length of the anode, and the spine being provided with struck-outhooks.

4. An elongated, imperforate, soluble anode of the type wherein theanode material is dissolved in use, the soluble anode material beingcast upon aspine of insoluble material which extends substantially thewhole length of the anode, and the

